SPD leader Esken not part of the government cabinet
Saskia Esken Excluded from 2025 SPD Federal Cabinet
Saskia Esken, co-chair of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), was not appointed to a federal ministerial role in the SPD's new government formed in 2025. Instead, the party leadership chose an almost entirely new federal cabinet lineup, with Esken conspicuously absent from the list[1].
In her role as co-chair, Esken continues to hold a significant leadership position within the party alongside Lars Klingbeil. However, her exclusion from the federal cabinet signifies a division between party leadership roles and the executive government team[1].
Rumours had circulated that Esken was aiming for a post as Minister for Development. However, the SPD leadership's decision to concentrate power in other figures, such as Klingbeil who became both finance minister and vice chancellor, may have contributed to her exclusion[1].
The decision to exclude Esken from the federal cabinet sparked debates within the party, particularly in her home state association. Unlike the previous year, Esken was not nominated by her own state association for the federal board this year[1].
Leni Breymaier, a fellow party member, defended Esken and attacked Sascha Binder, the state general secretary, for making life difficult for women in the party[1]. Binder had previously criticized Esken in an interview and did not consider her as one of the four best for cabinet posts[1].
Katja Mast and Isabel Cademartori were proposed as possible members by the executive board of the Baden-Württemberg SPD[1]. The SPD was divided on the issue of Esken as Minister for Development[1].
In the 2021 federal election, Esken received 16.83% of the votes in her constituency. However, in the February election of the same year, she suffered a defeat, with CDU politician Klaus Mack winning her constituency with 39% of the first votes[1].
Despite the speculation, it remains unclear whether Esken will receive any position after the federal election. The SPD leader Saskia Esken will not join the federal government of Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU)[1].
[1] Source: Various news outlets reporting on the SPD's new government formation in 2025.
- The exclusion of Saskia Esken, co-chair of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), from the 2025 SPD federal cabinet indicates a disconnect between party leadership roles and the executive government team, as policy-and-legislation discussions and general news coverage suggest.
- The debates within the SPD, particularly in her home state association, raised questions about Saskia Esken's potential future role in the party, with discussions focusing on the policy-and-legislation matters and general news related to her aim for a post as Minister for Development.
